Kassidy Ashbeck

Kassidy Ashbeck, M.S., is pursuing her Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas under the supervision of Dr. Isaac Melanson. Originally from Wisconsin, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Theatre Studies from St. Norbert College in 2022 and her Master of Science in Behavior Analysis from Marquette University in 2024. Kassidy’s research interests include intervention and treatment for autism, barriers caregivers face when seeking behavior-analytic services, and the expansion and refinement of the Preschool Life Skills curriculum to promote school readiness and socially significant outcomes for young children. She is especially passionate about translating research into practical tools that meaningfully support children, families, and educators.

Outside of academia, Kassidy can usually be found with a book in hand (physical, Kindle, or audiobook), spending time with friends, or playing with her dog, Jojo (whom she rescued from Afghanistan and will happily talk about at any opportunity.)

Kassidy is excited to serve as a representative on the Graduate Student Advisory Board (GSAB), where she looks forward to advocating for graduate student needs, fostering collaboration across departments, and strengthening community within the program.